Evaluation of the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Initiative

Appendix A: Logic Model of the Initiative

Logic Model of the Initiative

Although the Initiative has two components, i.e. the Information and Training pillars, its logic encompasses both pillars since they lead to the same result, which is the development of initiatives and partnerships with government and non-governmental organizations in order to give Canadians access to justice services in both official languages. However, it is important to note that the Information pillar has been in place since 2003 (although not always described as such), whereas the Training pillar was instituted in 2008. The Initiative’s logic is illustrated in Figure 1 and described in the following sub-sections.

Activities and Outputs

Set funding criteria and select projects under the Initiative

Information pillar

The Department of Justice will pursue the work begun in 2003 to inform partners about its funding priorities and select projects that fit the requirements of the Information pillar. Funding under this pillar is granted to eligible organizations for the implementation of projects related to access to justice in both official languages. Most of the projects funded under this pillar are direct services to Canadians, providing useful and accurate legal information in French outside Quebec and in English in Quebec.

Training pillar

In order to achieve the anticipated outcomes of the Training pillar, the Department uses grants and contributions to financially support provincial and territorial administrations, universities and colleges, and non-governmental organizations offering services to Francophone communities outside Quebec and Anglophone communities in Quebec, in order to improve access to justice in both official languages.

For the Training pillar, the Department promotes and supports initiatives and projects with the following objectives: to pursue and develop new language training and development activities in legal terminology in the minority language for bilingual professionals already working in the area of justice; to maximize the use of information technologies in order, among other things, to reach as many professionals as possible and make training available at all times; and to develop legal and jurilinguistic tools and resources in support of training activities. Finally, under this pillar, the Department continues to capitalize on its investments made since 2008 in the area of training, including the professional development of young bilingual Canadians who wish to pursue a career in justice.

Outputs: Priorities shared with partners and contribution agreements concluded.

Consultation management and coordination

The Department manages and coordinates consultations with government and non-governmental organizations. Through the consultations process, the Department can monitor the implementation and impacts of the two pillars of the Initiative. To this effect, the Initiative provides support to the Advisory Committee on Access to Justice in Both Official Languages, whose mandate is to liaise between representatives of non-governmental organizations from the legal and academic worlds and the Department of Justice. In addition, the Initiative provides support to the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group on Access to Justice in Both Official languages, which is made up of Justice Department representatives as well as representatives from provincial and territorial governments.

Outputs: Consultation mechanisms.

Outcomes

Immediate Outcome

The activities implemented and funded by the Initiative are aimed at developing initiatives and partnerships with government and non-governmental organizations in order to give Canadians access to justice services in both official languages.

Intermediate Outcomes

The Initiative targets two intermediate outcomes. The first is the delivery of direct legal information services developed and implemented based on the needs of OLMCs. The second intermediate outcome is an increased capacity by stakeholders to provide justice services in both official languages.

Ultimate Outcome

Ultimately, the purpose of the Initiative is for Canadians from OLMCs to have access to information regarding their rights and responsibilities in the official language of their choice and, where necessary, access to a justice system that meets their needs in that language.

Alignment with Department’s strategic outcome

Overall, the Initiative is aligned with the Department’s strategic outcome which aims at ensuring a fair, relevant and accessible Canadian justice system.

Reporting Process

The Department of Justice manages all contribution agreements concluded with funded organizations. To this end, the Department has implemented a reporting process to collect data on the Initiative’s performance:

Figure 1: Logic Model of the Initiative

Figure 1: Logic Model of the Initiative

Figure 1: Logic Model of the Initiative - Text version

The logic model of the Initiative includes two activities:

  • Setting funding criteria and selecting Initiative projects
  • Consultation management and coordination

These activities lead, respectively, to the following outputs:

  • Concluding contribution agreements and communicating priorities to partners
  • Consultation mechanisms

These outputs lead, respectively, to several partner or beneficiary activities:

  • Offering direct legal information services in accordance with the initiative’s objectives; Developing a training program, developing a recruitment strategy and developing tools to support training according to the priorities identified
  • Participating in consultations

Collectively, these activities lead to the following outputs on the part of partners or beneficiaries:

  • Legal information services enabling Canadians from Francophone and Anglophone minorities to learn about their rights, obligations and responsibilities in the official language of their choice
  • Training of justice system stakeholders enabling them to serve Canadians in the official language of their choice

These two outputs lead to the immediate outcome of the development of initiatives and partnerships with government and non-government organizations to give Canadians access to justice services in both official languages.

The intermediate outcomes of the Initiative are:

  • Direct legal information services developed and implemented based on needs.
  • Increased capacity by stakeholders to offer justice services in both official languages.

The ultimate outcome of the Initiative is:

  • Canadians from OLMCs have access to information on their rights and responsibilities in the official language of their choice and, where necessary, access to a justice system that meets their needs in that language.